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LCBO extends hours in lead up to Canada Day as possible strike looms

The LCBO is extending hours amid fears of a last call due to a possible work stoppage next week.

With 8,000 unionized workers set to hit the bricks on Monday, the provincial alcohol monopoly some Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores will be open from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. starting Thursday.

George Soleas, CEO of the LCBO: 84 per cent of the liquor monopoly's employees are part-time, and workers are seeking greater certainty from the LCBO over scheduling and guarantees about eventually gaining full-time jobs. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star file photo)

“Extended store hours across Ontario will help accommodate customer shopping leading up to Canada Day and possible labour disruption,” the LCBO said in a statement Wednesday.

“We continue to bargain with the union’s bargaining committee, with the union in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m. Monday,” the Crown agency continued.

“To ensure access to the best product selection and to avoid disappointment, customers should shop in advance of Sunday . . . if possible,” it said.

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“We remain focused on reaching a fair, sustainable and responsible collective agreement. However, in the event of a labour disruption, we have plans to provide some level of service.”

Details on those strike provisions are not yet known.

The booze retailer said some downtown Toronto outlets will keep the same long hours “in support of the City of Toronto’s Pride activities.”

They include stores at Cooper St. and Queens Quay, Front and Sherbourne, Front and Jarvis, Queen and Broadview, and Maple Leaf Square at York and Lake Shore.

In the event that workers are not on strike over the Canada Day long weekend July 1, the LCBO is hoping to keep as many as 450 of its 650 stores open with the longer hours that Sunday.

However, all outlets will be closed on the Saturday. They will be open Monday even though that is a statutory holiday.

Employees, 84 per cent of whom are part-time, are seeking greater certainty from the LCBO over scheduling and guarantees about eventually gaining full-time jobs.

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Premier Kathleen Wynne, who is reforming labour laws this fall to protect workers in precarious employment circumstances better, has warned that “it’s a good idea for government to set an example in terms of good labour practice.”

Asked last week if she is worried there would be a “political price” to pay if liquor store workers are on strike on the Canada Day long weekend, Wynne conceded it’s a concern.

“I’m sure there will be those who will try to do that — blame me — but, again, there’s always more than one issue on the table at a given time,” she said at the time.

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